A library on wheels

The city of Richmond bookmobile chugged up Hilltop Drive and pulled into the Small World Montessori School parking lot.

Shortly after arriving, a dozen five-year-olds hopped on to the custom-built recreational vehicle and began grabbing informative books about dinosaurs and cutesy storybooks illustrated with pictures of personified animals.

Four days out of the week, the bookmobile treks to many of the schools in Richmond and its surrounding areas, providing children access to books who may not be able to visit one of the city’s three library branches.

“It’s unusual to have a city of our size that really needs a bookmobile,” said Katy Curl, library and cultural services director. “We find it very important to be able to take our services out to the community.”